Expansion joint for concrete pavements or the like



C. OLDER July 18, 1939.

EXPANSION JOINT FOR CONCRETE PAVEMENTS OR THE LIKE Original Filed June18, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 .j A 1. J 0. 1 V. Q l a 6 Z W up MSW 9 3 3 2m-a p B a: rxf fiw ii 16 JZ 35.37.35

C. OLDER July 18, 1939.

EXPANSION JOINT FOR CONCRETE PAVEMENTS OR THE LIKE Original Filed June18, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 J C'Zzffard aide) Patented July 18 1939 UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE Clifford Older, Wilmette, Ill.

Application June 18, 1934, Serial No. 731,042 Renewed May 6, 1939 10Claims.

The present invention relates to expansion joints for concrete pavementsand the like, and is particularly concerned with an improved expansionjoint which does not require a plastic or semi-plastic filling material.

In the expansion joints of the prior art, the cracks appearing betweenthe sections of pavement are ordinarily filled with a plastic orsemiplastic material, such as asphalt or tar. When such joints close dueto the expansion of the adjacent concrete sections, all, or nearly all,of the plastic material is forced out at the top of the joint, since itis prevented from being forced out below the concrete by the presence ofthe subgrade material. The plastic material which is forced out at thetop of the joint forms, at least temporarily, ridges of material acrossthe pavement, which are struck by the wheels of the passing vehicles,causing an impact blow to fall upon the adjacent concrete slabs. Thisoften causes the slabs to become broken, unless they are made strongenough, at additional expense, to resist this extra force.

Ultimately, the ridges of semi-plastic material may be flattened out bytraflic, but in the meantime, the pavement may be seriously damaged. Ifthe plastic filler is soft enough so that it will flatten outimmediately under traffic, it will also flow sidewise due to the crownof the pavement and leave the center only partially filled and thesurplus flows over the surface of the pavement, forming unsightly pools.

It is also desirable that an expansion joint should permit widening ofthe joint or crack from its initial position and rewidening from anypredetermined position, in order to take care of expansion in the summerand contraction of the concrete pavement sections in the winter. When ajoint is filled with such plastic material, it cannot fulfill thesefunctions, because the material which is forced out by the closing ofthe expansion joint crack is flattened out, and the joint must berefilled with plastic every time it opens, which is a nightlyoccurrence, if the joint is to be kept free from sand and othermaterial.

One of the objects of the present invention is the provision of animproved expansion joint, in which no plastic or compressible filler isrequired.

Another object is the provision of an improved expansion joint which iscapable of permitting either expansion or contraction of the concretesections, and permitting a substantial widening or closing of the crackor space between the sections without exposing any opening into whichsoil or other foreign material may enter and interfere with futureeffective operation of the joint.

Another object is the provision of an improved expansion jointconstruction, by means 5 of which each section of concrete is supportedand reinforced by the adjacent sections so as to eliminate the unduestrains which would otherwise be imposed upon the concrete sections attheir edges.

Another object is the provision of an improved sliding construction foran expansion joint, which is adapted to automatically maintain itself inclean and operative condition by virtue of its own operation, and whichpositively pre- 15 eludes the entrance of any dirt or foreign materialbetween the adjacent sections of concrete.

Another object is the provision of an improved expansion joint assemblywhich is adapt- 20 ed to maintain the adjacent concrete sections inhorizontal alignment to eliminate any possibility of one sectionsettling below the other, or producing any bump or irregularity in thepavement of the joint.

Another object is the provision of an improved expansion joint assemblywhich may be manufactured out of standard structural shapes and plates,or which lends itself readily to manufacture out of sheet metal, so thatthe metallic 3 members may be manufactured at a low cost.

Another object is the provision of an improved expansion joint assemblywhich may be installed as a unit in the concrete and supported withoutthe aid of header boards, and which may also 35 be used to end a daysrun of concrete, thus entirely eliminating the boards usually employedfor that purpose.

Another object is the provision of an improved method of constructingexpansion joints by 40 means of which a good bond is assured between theparts of the expansion joint and the concrete section, and the shrinkingaway of the concrete section from the expansion joint during the dryingof the concrete is eliminated.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an improvedexpansion joint of the sliding type for concrete pavements in which thesliding parts are held in close contact with each other to eliminate anypossibility of movement 50 of one section of the concrete in a verticaldirection with respect to the next adjacent section and, thus, to assurethe transmission of the load from each section to each adjacent section.

Another object of the invention is the proviconcrete section sion of animproved expansion joint of the class described in which less metal isrequired for the construction of the joint and less welding or otherlabor than the devices of the prior art.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will appear more fully fromthe following description and from the accompanying drawings, in whichsimilar characters of reference indicate similar parts throughout theseveral views.

Referring to the drawings,

Fig. l is a fragmentary, transverse sectional view through two sectionsof concrete equipped with an expansion joint constructed according tothe present invention, the section being taken longitudinally of theroad;

Fig. 2 is a similar View of a modification which is equipped with asheet metal member forming a socket for the sliding flange at the bottomof the expansion joint;

Fig. 3 is a vertical elevational view of the expansion joint unitshowing the adaptation of the unit to the contour and thickness of theroad;

Fig. 4 is a view similar "to Fig. 1 of another modification equippedwith resilient means for holding the sliding elements of the joint inclose contact with each other; and

Fig. 5 is a vertical elevational view of the expansion joint shown inFig. 4, looking in the direction indicated at 5-5 in Fig. 4.

Referring to Fig. 1, l0 indicates a section of concrete pavement, or thelike, immediately adjacent another section II, the sections beingequipped with an expansion joint indicated in its entirety by thenumeral l2. The expansion joint unit i2 is preferably so constructedthat it may be handled as a unit having all of its parts securedtogether. Referring to Fig. 1, the joint of this embodiment ispreferably formed with a pair of angle iron members |3, |4, each angleiron member having a horizontal flange, l5, l6 and a vertical flange ll,i8.

Integral lugs may be struck out of the vertical flanges l7, l8 andsuitably formed to provide the anchoring formations, for example, thelugs l9 and 2G taper from their outer ends toward the flanges i'l, l8,and the lugs being larger at their outer ends they are adapted to befirmly anchored in the concrete section H).

The vertical flanges I? and I8 of the angle iron members I3 and I4 arepreferably joined by a relatively light sheet metal plate 2| which maybe spot-welded tothe flanges I! and I8, as indicated on the drawings,and the plate 2| is preferably wide enough to cover the apertures formedby striking out the lugs l9 and 20.

All of the parts of the joints. described herein may be made ofnon-corrodible metal, such as stainless steel or steel plated withchromium, but parts which are not essential to the permanent operationof the joint may be made of any metal adapted to perform the functionrequired of it in the installation of the joint.

The horizontal flanges H and I6 are spaced sufficiently to locate themflush with the upper and lower surface of the concrete, by means of theplate 2|, and they are adapted to slidably engage metallic parts uponthe adjacent section II of concrete. Ihe section I is provided at itsupper edge with a sheet metal member having a horizontal flange 22, adownwardly extending flange 23 and an inwardly turned edge 24. Thehorizontal flange 22 may likewise have a plurality of anchoring members25 struck out of the flange and turned downward to be embedded in the Inthis case the anchoring lugs 25 are provided with inwardly extendinggrooves 25 into which the concrete flows, thereby anchoring the lugs 25firmly in the section I I. In order to hold the sheet metal 22 in properposition, it is provided with a plurality of apertures 21 which registerwith apertures 28 in the flange l5 of the angle iron 53, and flanges i5and 22 are secured together by a plurality of screw bolts 29. Thus, theupper surface of flange 22 and the lower surface of flange l5 are heldin close contact with each other during the installation of the joint inthe concrete. The nut of the bolt 29 is embedded in the concrete sectionH and when the concrete has become sufficiently firm, the bolt 23 may beremoved by means of a wrench or other tool, the nut remaining embeddedin the concrete. It is, of course, necessary to remove the bolt 29 topermit the sliding action of the expansion joint.

The angle iron members |3 and M are preferably constructed out ofordinary stock angle irons in. order to reducethe cost of the joint asmuch as possible, but the sheet metal member 22 may be made of lightermaterial. The inwardly extending edge 24 is adapted to provide anadditional bearing surface for the sheet metal member 22 on the sectionin case the concrete does not happen to flow up under the flange 22 atall points.

The expansion joint is preferably so constructed that there will beformed an open space 30 between the sections ill and I! of concrete andthis may be accomplished by means of a light sheet metal plate 3! ofsufficient width to flt between the flanges l5 and I6 and of suihcientlength to extend the full length of the expansion joint. The :1

plate 3| may be supported in place by providing it with a laterally anddownwardly extending flange 32 and a laterally and upwardly extendingflange 33 which also determines the spacing between the plate 3| andplate 2|. The flanges 32 and 33 have suflicient angle so that when thesections of concrete l0 and H later expand, the flanges 32 and 33 willfold up against the body of the plate 3|. The present joint is thusadapted to permit initial expansion or initial contraction of theconcrete.

At its lower edge the section is also preferably provided witha sheetmetal member 34 which may be made of relatively light stock having aflat body and an upwardly extending flange 35. At its opposite edge thebody is turned diagonally downward at 36, thus forming the open space 31below the concrete section II at its edge for the reception of theflange I6 of angle iron I 4. In order to permit the unit handling ofthis expansion joint, the flange 35 may be spot-welded to the body ofthe plate 3|. When the joint is installed in the concrete, the plate 34provides a smooth, sliding surface engaging the flange N5 of the angleiron l4 and any load on the section II is transmitted to the section I0through the plate 34 and flange I6. Any load on the section IB istransmitted to the section II by means of the angle iron flange l5bearing on the plate 22 and thus, the two sections of concrete areconstantly kept in alignment with each other. The lower flange It may beprovided with a sharp forward edge 38, if desired, which is adapted toscale off any small amount of concrete which might penetrate into thespace 3'! below plate 34.

The shape of the complete expansion joint corresponds to the contour andthickness of the roadway, as shown in Fig. 3, the thickness of theconcrete usually being increased at the edge of the road.

Referring now to Fig. 2, this is a modification in which all of theelements of the expansion joint may be just the same as that describedwith respect, to Fig. 1, except that the lower flange I6 of angle ironI4 is provided with a sheet metal mem-- ber 39 forming a socket for thisflange in the concrete section I I. The sheet metal member 39 has alower flange MI and is bent back upon itself at M, its upper flange 42being spaced from the flange All sufiiciently to receive the flange I6on the angle iron member I4. Upper flange 42 has an upwardly extendingflange 43 for engaging the division plate 3i.

In order to secure the angle iron member I1 and the sheet metal member39 in predetermined positions with respect to each other, the flange Itis preferably provided with a plurality of apertures M and the flangesMI, 42 preferably have punched deformations 45 which extend down intoand up into the apertures 43 to hold these two members together.

The operation of this joint is the same as that of Fig. l, the flanges32, 33 of the division plate 3| crumbling up upon the further expansionof the concrete into the space 33. The punched deformations t5 aresufficient to hold these parts in the position shown in Fig. 2 duringthe installation of the joint, but they are not strong enough to preventsliding between the flanges I6 and 40, 42. When the concrete sectionslater expand or contract these deformations 45 soon become flattened outand do not interfere with the sliding movements of the elements of theexpansion joint.

Referring now to Fig. 4, this is another modification adapted to be usedwhere it is desirable to have a heavier metal plate on the lower part ofthe concrete section I I. In this embodiment corresponding parts of theexpansion joint unit may be of similar construction to the top and lefthalf of the joint of Fig. 1. The lower right-hand part of the expansionjoint is provided with a sheet metal member ib similar in shape to thesheet metal member 22, except for the provision of the diagonallydownward extending flange 54 similar in structure and purpose to theflange 36 in Fig. 1 previously described, which is provided at the lowerright. The flanges 4B and I6 are provided with apertures 41, 48 and thelatter aperture is preferably screw-threaded to receive the threaded endof an elongated screw bolt 49 which passes through the apertures 2 28and 41 and is threaded home in the threaded bore $8.

In order to maintain the sheet metal members 22 and 5% in the positionof Fig. 4 and in close contact with the flanges I5 and it, a pluralityof resilient spacing members 50 may be used, preferably located at eachof the bolts 49. Each of the spacing members 59' may consist of an'angleiron member having one flange M which is shorter than the space betweeni he flanges 22 and 46 and the other flange 52 which is longer than thespace mentioned and bent laterally at its end 53. The end flange 53 isbent so as to make the spacer 5i) initially longer than the space intowhich it is forced between the flanges 22, 58 so that the end flange 53is bent over from the position shown at the right of Fig. 5 to theposition shown at the left of Fig. 5. The flanges 5E3 thus resilientlyengage the flanges 22, 46 and hold them tightly against flanges I5 andI8 during the handling and installation of the joint and after theconcrete has hardened the bolts 43 may be removed so as to permitsliding between the two adjacent sections of concrete. The subsequentoperation of this joint is substantially the same as the jointspreviously described. It will thus be observed that I have invented animproved construction of sliding expansion. joint provided with spacingmembers having a residual spring after they are driven home between theparts of the expansion joint so as to insure tight contact of the topand bottom bearing plates with the main angle irons. This improvedconstruction permits no lost motion or play in a vertical directionbetween the sliding parts of the bearing plates because these parts areheld tightly together by means of removable bolts and/or spacing membersuntil the concrete has become firm enough to hold the parts in thisposition. Less metal and less welding is required in the manufacture ofthese expansion joint units than is required in the devices of the priorart and the joint may, therefore, be constructed more cheaply.

While I have illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of myinvention, many modifications may be made without departing from thespirit of the invention and I do not wish to be limited to the precisedetails set forth but desire to avail myself of all changes within thescope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1..In an expansion joint unit, the combination of a pair of angle ironseach having a horizontally extending flange and a vertically extendingflange, said vertically extending flanges being disposed towards eachother and having a plurality of anchoring lugs struck out from saidvertically extending flanges, means for fixedly secur ing saidvertically extending flanges to each other in spaced relation to eachother and in substantial alignment with each other, a pair of metalfittings adapted to be secured to an adjacent section of concrete, meansfor securing said latter metal fittings in close contact. with the innersurfaces of the horizontal flanges of said angle irons, and a divisionplate adapted to be located and temporarily secured in spaced relationto said vertical flanges to form an open space between the ends of twoadjacent sections of concrete to permit initial expansion of theconcrete sections, said division plate comprising a relatively lightsheet metal member extending from the horizont'al flange of one angleiron. to the horizontal flange of the other angle iron and havingtransversely extending parts adapted to initially space the divisionplate from the vertical flanges of the angle irons.

2. In an expansion joint unit, the combination of a pair of angle ironseach having a horizontally extending flange and a vertically extendingflange, said vertically extending flanges being disposed towards eachother and having a plurality of anchoring lugs struck out from saidvertically extending flanges, means for fixedly securing said verticallyextending flanges to each other in spaced relation to each other and insubstantial alignment with each other, a pair of metal fittings adaptedto be secured to an adjacent section of concrete, means for securingsaid latter metal fittings in close contact with the inner surfaces ofthe horizontal flanges of said angle irons, and a division plate adaptedto be located and temporarily secured in spaced relation to saidvertical flanges to form an open space between the ends of two adjacentsections of concrete to permit initial expansion of the concretesections, said division plate comprising a relatively light sheet metalmember extending from the horizontal flange of one angle iron to thehorizontal flange of the other angle iron and having transverselyextending parts adapted to initially space the division plate from thevertical flanges of the angle irons, said transversely extending partscomprising diagonally downward and upward extending flanges at the topand bottom of said division plate adapted to be bent when the concretesections expand.

3. In an expansion joint unit, the combination of a pair of angle ironseach having a horizontally extending flange and a vertically extendingflange, said vertically extending flanges being disposed towards eachother and having a plurality of anchoring lugs struck out from saidvertically extending flanges, a sheet metal member having a horizontallyextending flange and a vertically extending flange adapted to be securedto the adjacent upper corner of a concrete section and a similar sheetmetal member adapted to be secured to the adjacent lower corner of anadjacent concrete section, said lower sheet metal member having adownwardly extending flange at its inner edge engaging said concretesection to form a recess below the adjacent edge of said adjacentconcrete section for receiving the lower horizontal flange of said angleiron, and removable means for securing said sheet metal members withtheir horizontal flanges in close engagement with the horizontal flangesof said angle irons.

4. In an expansion joint unit, the combination of a pair of angle ironseach having a horizontally extending flange and a vertically extendingflange, said vertically extending flanges being disposed towards eachother and having a plurality of anchoring lugs struck out from saidvertically extending flanges, a sheet metal member having a horizontallyextending flange and a vertically extending flange adapted to be securedto the adjacent upper corner of a concrete section and a similar sheetmetal member adapted to be secured to the adjacent lower corner of anadjacent concrete section, said lower sheet metal member having adownwardly extending flange at its inner edge engaging said concretesection to form a recess below the adjacent edge of said adjacentconcrete section for receiving the lower horizontal flange of said angleiron, and removable means for securing said sheet metal members withtheir horizontal flanges in close engagement with the horizontal flangesof said angle irons, comprising a threaded member having a non-circularhead and extending through the horizontal flanges of said angle ironsand said metal members, said threaded member engaging a threaded bore inthe horizontal flange of said lower angle iron.

5. In an expansion joint unit, the combination of a pair of angle ironseach having a horizontally extending flange and a vertically extendingflange, said vertically extending flanges being disposed towards eachother and having a plurality of anchoring lugs struck out from saidvertically extending flanges, a sheet metal member having a horizontallyextending flange and a vertically extending flange adapted to be securedto the adjacent upper corner of a concrete section and a similar sheetmetal member adapted to be secured to the adjacent lower corner of anadjacent concrete section, said lower sheet metal member having adownwardly extending flange at its inner edge engaging said concretesection to form a recess below the adjacent edge of said adjacentconcrete section for receiving the lower horizontal flange of said angleiron, and removable means for securing said sheet metal members withtheir horizontal flanges in close engagement with the horizontal flangesof said angle irons, comprising a threaded member having a non-circularhead and extending through the horizontal flanges of said angle ironsand said metal members, said threaded member engaging a threaded bore inthe horizontal flange of said lower angle iron, and resilient spacingmembers located between the horizontal flanges of said metal members andholding said latter horizontal flanges tightly against the horizontalflanges of said angle irons.

6. In a concrete expansion joint unit, the combination of four metalmembers each having horizontally extending flanges and each havinganchoring lugs adapted to be embedded in an adjacent section ofconcrete, means for temporarily securing said horizontal flanges to eachother in position to permit sliding movement of said horizontal flangesin either of two directions relative to each other, and means engagingthe inncrmost of said horizontal flanges and urging said latterinnermost horizontal flanges into close contact with the outermost ofsaid horizontal flanges.

7. In a concrete expansion joint unit, the combination of four metalmembers each having horizontally extending flanges and each havinganchoring lugs adapted to be embedded in an adjacent section ofconcrete, means for temporarily securing said horizontal flanges to eachother in position to permit sliding movement of said horizontal flangesin either of two directions relative to each other, and resilient meansengaging the innermost of said horizontal flang and urging said latterinnermost horizontal flanges into contact with the outermost of saidhorizontal flanges, said resilient means comprising a plurality ofrelatively stiff metal members provided with resilient diagonallyextending portions at one end and adapted to be driven home between saidinnermost horizontal flanges.

8. In an expansion joint for concrete pavements or the like, thecombination of a pair of stock angle iron members each having ahorizontally extending flange and a vertically extending flange, saidvertically extending flanges having laterally projecting anchoring lugsstruck from said vertically extending flanges, means for securing saidvertically extending flanges in spaced relation to each other,comprising a metal plate welded to said vertically extending flanges, ametal fitting having a horizontally extending flange and havinganchoring lugs struck downward out of said horizontally extendingflange, said fitting being temporarily bolted to the upper of saidhorizontally extending flanges and a sheet metal member formed with ahairpin bend and having parallel flanges engaging on both sides of thelower of said horizontally extending flanges on said angle iron members,said sheet metal member forming a socket in an adjacent section ofconcrete for ie sliding reception of the lower horizontal flange of saidangle iron members, the horizontal flange of said lower angle ironhaving a plurality of sockets formed therein, and punched deformationson said sheet metal member holding said sheet metal member with saidhorizontal flange in such sheet metal member in predetermined position,and a division plate having a flat body in spaced relation to the plateconnecting said angle irons, said division plate having spacing flangesadapted to be bent when the concrete expands,

9. In an expansion joint unit for concrete pavement or the like, thecombination of metal members for the top and for the bottom of twoadjacent sections of concrete, said metal members having horizontalflanges adapted to be secured to each section at the top and otherhorizontal members to be secured to each section at the bottom, andspaced metal plates forming end plates during the pouring of theconcrete, said spaced metal plates being adapted to provide a spacebetween the adjacent sections of concrete to permit initial expansion ofthe concrete, and means carried by one of said plates for temporarilyholding said plates in spaced relation but adapted to be bent uponexpansion of the concrete.

10. In a joint for concrete structures, the combination of a pair ofadacent sections of concrete, said sections having a crack formedbetween them at their juncture, with a load transmitting member having aflange extending in the general direction of the crack between thesections and located substantially at said crack, said load transmittingmember having integral anchoring lugs formed out of said flange andhaving a load transmitting flange extending substantially parallel to asurface on the opposite concrete section, said latter flange beinglocated in sliding engagement with said surface on the opposite concretesection, and the anchoring lugs extending oppositely from said firstflange and being fixedly embedded in the other concrete section, wherebyloads on the one concrete section are transmitted through the saidflange and load transmitting member to the other concrete section, tomaintain alignment of said sections, and a shield for said horizontalflange comprising a sheet metal member having anchoring formationsembedded in the other section of concrete and having a downwardly turnededge engaging the sub-grade to prevent concrete from entering under theshield and to provide a space for said horizontal flange.

CLIFFORD OLDER.

